GOTM68 - First Spoiler

[civ_steve]

GOTM 68 - first spoiler

Reading Requirements:

1. Must be able to research a Middle Ages Technology.
2. Must have contact will all civ(s) on your starting continent

Posting restrictions

1. No maps showing resources from middle-ages (or later).
2. No discussion of middle-ages (or later).
3. Do not reveal the locations of other continents or the civs on them. You MAY discuss when contact(s) were made and generic descriptions of any trades.
4. AS ALWAYS, do not post Spoiler information for ANY other 'X'OTM contest.

OK, first spoiler is out. How is your Carthage doing? Not feeling too lonely, I hope? For the Open players, due to the starting file mix-up, how much advantage did you feel the bonuses gave you?

 

[Più Freddo]

Predator going for Conquest

The Dawn of Civilization

We founded Carthage on the spot and trained two Warriors, who scouted
to the north-east and the south-west, respectively. Carthage then
built a Granary using The Pyramids as pre-build. The construction was
timed for the turn before reaching a population of three. One forest
chop was utilized. So, we're on an island.

On the Rock

The second city built The Great Lighthouse from scratch using Palace
as pre-build. It gradually, as population grew, took over the bonus
grassland tiles from the capital. The third city built a Granary and
was set to train mainly Workers. The fourth city built a Galley using
a Granary as pre-build. These cities were all RCP3. The fifth city
went by the lake in order to bring sweet water back home. We trained a
Worker in the capital. The sixth city then built our first Barracks
and the seventh city the Forbidden Palace using the Palace as
pre-build. These two cities were also RCP3.

4000 BC Found Carthage
2750 BC Found Utica
2310 BC Found Leptis Magna
1650 BC Found Theveste
1425 BC Found Hippo
1250 BC Found Leptis Minor
_950 BC Found Sabratha
_900 BC Found Rusicade
_875 BC Found Oea
_850 BC Found Hadrumetum
_800 BC Connect Iron​

Research went the obvious way.

4000 BC Discover Masonry
4000 BC Discover Alphabet
3300 BC Discover Pottery
1910 BC Discover Writing
1275 BC Discover Map Making​

Off the Rock

Our Galleys crossed the seas and soon got a boost from The Great
Lighthouse, which was completed in 1075 BC. Apparently it wasn't
absolutely necessary for reaching our neighbours.

1075 BC Meet Zululand
1050 BC Meet Spain
1050 BC Meet Persia
1050 BC Meet Egypt
1050 BC Embassy Spain Colossus in 1
1050 BC War Zululand breaking gpt deal
1050 BC War Persia breaking gpt deal
1050 BC War Egypt breaking gpt deal
_925 BC Meet Rome
_925 BC Meet America
_925 BC War America
_925 BC Embassy Rome The Pyramids in 16
_925 BC Alliance vs. Zululand with Spain including Peace Treaty
_925 BC Alliance vs. Persia with Spain including Peace Treaty
_925 BC Alliance vs. Egypt with Spain including Peace Treaty
_925 BC Alliance vs. America with Rome including Peace Treaty
_825 BC Meet England​

We were lucky to choose Philosophy as next research target after Map
Making, since we could immediately trade it for Code of Laws. Being
relatively fast to research, it was the low-risk choice. The catch-up
effect emptied the bottle.

1050 BC Discover Philosophy
1050 BC Learn Warrior Code
1050 BC Learn The Wheel
1050 BC Learn Code of Laws
_925 BC Learn Mysticism
_925 BC Learn Mathematics
_925 BC Learn Literature
_925 BC Learn Iron Working
_925 BC Learn Horseback Riding
_925 BC Learn Ceremonial Burial
_925 BC Learn Bronze Working​

Leaving the Ancient Age

In 670 BC Spain finally lost its wits and made peace with Egypt and
war with us. War happiness set in and we could make peace with
Zululand, Persia and Egypt. We later used our technology lead to trade
for three overseas luxuries.

In 510 BC we learned The Republic with little left of
self-research. After two turns of Anarchy, Republic was established in
470 BC. In the same turn we could trade for Polytheism and
Construction and make peace with America. We also captured our first
Spanish town.

After capturing also Madrid in 370 BC, with its Ivory and
Horses, we made peace for Currency and entered the Middle Ages.

 

[megistatos]

This game is both my first attempt at a peaceful victory, and my first predator game.

Settled in place. Built 4 warriors and a settler as Carthage grew to size 3. Research set to BW.
2850-Utica founded(RCP 4 so I can fit in a city NW of Carthage).
2550- CB discovered(I accidently switched from BW).
2430-temple built in Carthage. Start pyramids.
2000- BW discovered. Production switched to colossus. Science directed towards construction.
1870-Leptis Magna founded
1475- Colossus built. Start pyramids.
1350- Carth riots at pop 5
1225- Theveste founded
1200- Carthage riots at pop 6
1000- Culture is 328(9pt). I have 4 cities, 123gold. Pyramids are 18 turns away, construction in 21.

From here things started to go worse.
610- Spanish build pyramids. I am 2 turns turns away from completion and two turns from construction(I ealier lost 2 turns due to rioting!). With only a barracks to switch to I lose 340 shields.
550-research construction. Next I go for writing then literature. Then towards republic.
510-aqueduct built. Merge in workers to get pop to 12, giving 19 unwasted shileds. Start great wall.
250-beaten to the great wall by 1 turn. This was totally my fault. A few turns earlier I had tried to slow the production of the Great Wall so it I could be changed it into the great library when I learnt literature. So I pillaged my own tiles, which then of course slowed research too. Starvation and rioting ensued. It took several turns to undo the pointless damage I had done. Colloseum was built instead of the Great Wall.

AD- 230- Thankfully I get the great library.
300- contact made with the rest of the world. I get all ancient techs plus Theology, Monotheism, Chivalry and Fuedalism.

Culture is 1135(20pt). I have 10 cities,30 pop. Hanging gardens are 12 turns away. Estimated win date 2355(we'll see about that).

 

[Megalou]

Predator - Conquest
Settled in 4000 BC. I remember making a couple of mistake in the beginning. First I went for Writing thinking that I would be able to trade Pottery. A few turns were wasted. Secondly, I overlooked what I had known for years, that I can not use the Pyramids as a prebuild for granary after chopping forest. I had to work a few unworked tiles to slow down the prebuild. Unlike Più Freddo I settled at RCP 4. This was a bit unlucky because I built a town on top of iron, but otherwise it was OK.

Like Più Freddo I also built the Great Lighthouse in my scecond town, next to the gold hill. It was finished in 630 BC. Pretty late. I used the gold hill for science which slowed the growth of the town. I expect the Great Lighthouse to be extremely useful regardless of the geography beyond Carthage. The lack of luxuries must be remedied, the use of sea tiles is important, and the extra movement point is likely to last the whole game.

In 510 BC I have all contacts and it's time to trade my way into the Middle Ages. I also get Monarchy, which I'm quite happy with. I hate war weariness and I'm hoping not much research is necessarry. (But generically speaking Republic is of course better.)

At this date my military consists of 13 swordsmen (upgraded on the interturn), 20 warriors and 10 galleys. The reason for the great number of warriors is that I didn't have Iron Working until 510 BC, which was risky, but I figured that there should at least be some iron on one of the surrounding islands, in which case I could have continued to pump out warriors (no research) until I had a harbour.

Ending the era, I engaged everyone else in war.

510 BC:

 

[tR1cKy]

predator PTW

After much thought, this time i decided to play a builder's game. I once tried to grab a diplo award but was beaten by the mighty Klarius for 8 turns. Well, it's time to try again.

Settled in place. Build order is warrior -> granary -> settler; cities are placed at RCP 4 from the capital, i thought it was better from RCP 3 since it gives a ring of 6 cities with much room for expansion. Unfortunately, i ended up settling over both the iron hills

City 2 is founded W-W-NW and builds a granary, then a settler, then a warrior. City 3 is founded on the coast next to the golden hill and starts the Palace, that is later turned into the Great Lighthouse.

Research is set to Pottery at max, followed by Writing at min and Map Making at max. The money save will be enough to sustain 100% research for the whole ancient ages and to upgrade a few warriors too. Barbs were really useful, they got all my regular warriors promoted and provided some extra money from destroyed camps. Such a thing wasn't harmless though, i lost a warrior, a galley and was also sacked once, for a little loss BTW.

After Map Making i send galleys around and start Literature at max. Zululand, Spain, Persia and Egypt are met pretty soon, and once Literature is complete i completely catch up with techs and maps, except for Horse Riding that will be traded later.

The QSC period ends with 9 cities, not bad but nothing exceptional.

The next tech to be researched is Polytheism, that is completed in 690BC and traded for Horse Riding and Code of Laws. Next goal is Republic, leaving to the AS the burden of researching Currency and Construction.

In 670BC i finally find a way to meet Rome and America. No techs to trade, but contacts and maps give a nice amount of money. What can't be sold is gifted, and everyone is happy with me

In 570BC the Great Lighthouse is complete. It wasn't necessary to find contacts, but it will be QUITE useful for other needs.

In 490BC the English are finally met. No one knows them, and they're quite happy to shell out all their money and maps for a few backward techs. Next turn an oversea civ does me a favour of building a harbor and for the first time the Carthaginian people gain access to a luxury.

In 450BC both Construction and Currency are finally known. The AS have traded them around so their value becomes quite affordable, to the point that i'm able to buy both of them for contacts, maps and a few money. Middle ages are finally reached, 9 turns short of Republic. The scientific Persians got Monotheism as free tech. My plan is to trade for it once Republic is complete and then to proceed for the lower tech branch.

War will erupt pretty soon, and it will be a war for luxuries. A settler is on the way to build a city oversea on an unclaimed dye field, and the weak Spain with its precious ivory and silks will be my first target. We'll have to fight Persia too, to capture a conquered Seville and grab incense.

As usual, the tech log:

4000BC: Alphabet, Masonry (prerequisites);
3350BC: Pottery (research);
1675BC: Writing (research);
1250BC: Map Making (research);
1050BC: Ceremonial Burial (trade, Spain);
_975BC: Literature (research); Philosophy (trade, Zulu); Mathematics, Mysticism (trade, Egypt); Warrior Code, Bronze Working (trade, Spain); Iron Working, Wheel (trade, Persia);
_690BC: Polytheism (research); Code of Laws, Horse Riding (trade, Spain);
_450BC: Currency (trade, Rome), Construction (trade, Egypt);

The founded cities (no one captured this time )

4000BC: Carthage;
2710BC: Utica;
2270BC: Leptis Magna;
1790BC: Theveste;
1675BC: Hippo;
1475BC: Leptis Minor;
1375BC: Sabratha;
1025BC: Rusicade;
1000BC: Oea;

_775BC: Hadrumetum;
_750BC: Cadiz;
_750BC: Cirta;
_610BC: Nora;
_530BC: Sulcis;

Foreign meetings:

1075BC: Zululand;
1050BC: Spain, Egypt;
_975BC: Persia;
_670BC: America, Rome;
_490BC: England;

Wars and kills: none

 

[PaperBeetle]

Settling Down
I settle in place and start researching Pots, after spinning some spreadsheets to convince myself that even in this unadorned start, a granary will pay for itself soon enough. The first builds are two axes to scout southwest and northeast, and then to hang around on hills outside my empire, fogbusting. I often find that I get in trouble with the barbs when I only have axes to fight them, and as soon as I see I am alone on this island I know I won't be getting War Code until after Mapping.

The Mighty Ten Turners
So pretty soon I know there are no food bonuses on my continent, just loads of gold, and a single puddle for fresh water. Grim stuff. There are some nice beegees southwest of the capital, so I decide to put my second town (2710bc) in that direction, and run both these towns as ten-turn settler factories. I use the fast worker to chop into both granaries. Towns go at RCP3 (7 spots) and RCP6 (5 spots).

Prebuild Planning
I settle the spot south of the gold as my fourth town (2070bc) and immediately start a prebuild for Lighthouse. I get Writing in 1870bc and Mapping in 1325bc. Of course I have prebuilds for a galley and harbour as well as the Lighthouse. This is the same turn my FP becomes available (8 towns), and I start building it in 1175bc in my tenth town, which is at RCP3 due northeast of Carthage. The very tight city placement around here should turn out advantageous when I flip the palace over to someone else's core.

Navy Inaugurated
The first galley leaves its port on the coast north of Carthage in 1275bc and heads in a clockwise direction, as I know there is more land to the northeast. The Lighthouse is still a fair way from completion, but I don't need it yet. The first foreigners I find are the Spaniards. Bella has plenty of techs that I don't of course, and she does already have Mapping, which is a shame. However she does not have Maths, which I have been researching at minimum. Scenting a catch-up opportunity, I switch science back on; Maths is due in 9 turns.

Bella's Friends
Bella immediately sells my contact to Cleo, which is nice of her, but Cleo doesn't give me any better tech-trading opportunites. The next people I meet are the Zulus. Shaka doesn't have Mapping, so I give it to him for Burial and contact with Persia. In 950bc, I discover Maths and it is time to get back to parity. I manage to buy in Bronze, War Code, Wheel, Mysticism, Ironwork, Philosophy, a decent pile of cash, and a mostly-complete set of maps. I could have got Riding too, but prefered the cash, in case I want to build some carts for upgrading. Of course, when I get mainturn control back, I discover that while I have an iron, horses are not so readily accessible.

QSC Stats
I don't stop to take notes for the QSC as I am well past the deadline for submission, but my rough situation is:
11 towns, 29 citizens, 91 tiles.
2 granaries, Lighthouse in progress (mostly done), FP in progress (recently started).
5 workers, at most 12 axes (I probably lost one or two skirmishing with barbs in the northeastern jungle), 2 galleys.
Masonry, Pottery, Burial, Alphabet, Writing, Mapping, Maths nearly complete.
4 contacts, no embassies.


AI Research Shock
After Maths I go for Currency as usual. There wasn't really much thought gone into that, it's just my normal research pattern. In fact, the only two techs I should be thinking about are Construction or Monarchy; I plan to use Monarchy rather than Republic this game, mostly just for a change, and both these techs allow easy-to-get IND wonders, one of which I will use to trigger my GA (I complete the COM Lighthouse in 800bc). I probably would have started on Monarchy already, but Polytheism isn't yet out. Anyway, I am only researching at 10%, so it is no great loss when the AI surprises me by getting Currency in 710bc (only 10 turns since I gave out Maths). I switch to Literature, researching as fast as possible, again expecting to trade for the techs I am actually interested in.

The Glum Carthaginians
I get Literature in 530bc, and use it to buy Currency, Polytheism, Riding and Laws, as well as the latest maps and treasuries. So now I can start on Monarchy, again researching as fast as I can afford. I am limited by my lux tax, as although most of my towns are still small, I let the two wonder-building towns up to size 6. And the AI is no help on happiness as it is really bad at building harbours and hooking up luxes. I suppose I should have started some dow-fishing alliances, but that is something I would normally use spare techs for, and so far I have been chasing the tech, not leading it.

Pre-Medieval Tension
I have been stockpiling axes for a while, and in 410bc I finally hook one of my iron sources. Upgrading 9 axes to swords puts me strong to everyone except Persia, and over the next couple of turns I find the cash to upgrade another 5. I am getting ready for war with Bella, who had the temerity to found a town in the jungles at the northeastern tip of my island. I make my dow in 310bc, immediately abducting an undefended worker, and the turn after I autoraze the interloping Spanish town. It wasn't in the exact spot I wanted anyway.
Around this time I also meet the Americans, buy Rome's contact from Abe, and start a war between those guys. But I forget to do it as a peace-renegotiation, so I don't really stand to gain much from this arrangement.

Caught Short Again
I am only a couple of turns away from Monarchy when X-man gets it in 290bc. I should have seen that coming, as it was he that got Polytheism, 24 turns previously. Now I make a woeful error: at the reduced rate, I need only one beaker to get the tech. But instead of finishing the research myself, I give X-man 10g to finish it for me. Too late I realise that I cannot now use the usual Big Picture revolt-and-reroll. Disaster! I could research on to Republic just to get the reroll, although the Spanish already have it. But that's too many beakers for a tech I'm not interested in plus a small reduction on my average expected anarchy duration. I hit revolt and draw 8 turns. You get what you deserve...

Finishing Up the Ancient Age
Now (still 290bc) the only outstanding required tech is Construction. I get it from Shaka in exchange for gpt and war with Spain, then sell Monarchy to him to try to recover the gpt. He pockets 10gpt in the process, which is more than I had hoped he would take. If he drops out of the war in the first 10 turns we'll call it quits! I try a similar deal with Cleo and she keeps all the gpt At least she agrees to give me a luxury resource for Monarchy. I also bring Persia into the dogpile, letting him into the medieval in the process. Shaka and Cleo were medieval already, or I might have tried holding X-man back. If I plan to fight with swords, there's no hurry to let the AI get pikes.